A great reason for Tia Mowry-Hardrict’s joy surrounding her second pregnancy, aside from the obvious, is based on the fact that she, like many women, struggled with infertility issues. After having son Cree in 2011, Mowry took her time with the idea of having another child. When she was finally ready again, it wasn’t happening. A burden on the process was her endometriosis diagnosis, which she knew about and had multiple surgeries for before having her son. She told PEOPLEthat for a time there, she didn’t know what the future would hold for her in terms of her fertility.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to have a second child, and it’s been over seven years since my first pregnancy,” she said. “I put it off, but I did want to have another child.”

But Mowry-Hardrict got on top of things at a certain point in the hopes of it having a positive impact on her situation. She changed her diet, worked out more and increased her faith while she waited to see what would happen. And now, the world is awaiting baby girl Hardrict.

“I didn’t let my infertility issues define me or define what my goals were and what I wanted out of life,” said the 39-year-old. “We did try for a long time. It was hard. But I didn’t give up.”

“That said, I just feel so much joy with [this pregnancy],” she added. “Also, who knows if I’ll ever be able to get pregnant again? So I am embracing and enjoying every moment.”

She’s taking full advantage of this pregnancy in every sense, from having fun with her fashion to not being afraid to dance and be active, which is something she didn’t do the first pregnancy for fear of what could happen.

“Even with my fashion, I’m like, ‘I was a fashionista before — I’m gonna still be one while I’m pregnant,'” she said. “I’m not gonna force myself into pregnancy pants!”

“I just wanted to really embrace every moment and also keep moving,” she added. “My first pregnancy, I was afraid to do anything, and I feel better [now] because I’m moving, dancing.”

With 7.4 million women been the ages of 15 and 44 having received infertility services in their lifetime according to the CDC, it’s important to hear women of all walks of life, including famous ones like Mowry, be forthcoming with such information about their own pregnancy journey. Mowry-Hardrict has always been very open about it all, even while she was waiting, so we are more than happy to see her receive the blessing she and husband Cory have been waiting for.